The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I've watched the children come and go
A late, long march into spring
I sit and watch those children
Jump in the tall grass
Leap the sprinkler
Walk in the ground
Bicycle clothespin spokes
The sound, the smell of swingset hands
I will try to sing a happy song
I'll try and make a happy game to play
"Come play with me" I whispered to my newfound friend
Tell me what it's like to go outside
I've never been
Tell me what it's like to just go outside
I've never been
And I never will
I'm not supposed to be like this
I'm not supposed to be like this, but it's okay
Hey, hey, hey, those kids are looking at me
I told my friend myself, those kids are looking at me
They're laughing and they're running over here
They're laughing and they're running over here
What do I do, what should I do?
What do I say?
What can I say?
I said I'm not supposed to be like this
Let's try to find a happy game to play
Let's try to find a happy game to play
I'm not supposed to be like this
But it's okay, okay
A late, long march into spring
I sit and watch those children
Jump in the tall grass
Leap the sprinkler
Walk in the ground
Bicycle clothespin spokes
The sound, the smell of swingset hands
I will try to sing a happy song
I'll try and make a happy game to play
"Come play with me" I whispered to my newfound friend
Tell me what it's like to go outside
I've never been
Tell me what it's like to just go outside
I've never been
And I never will
I'm not supposed to be like this
I'm not supposed to be like this, but it's okay
Hey, hey, hey, those kids are looking at me
I told my friend myself, those kids are looking at me
They're laughing and they're running over here
They're laughing and they're running over here
What do I do, what should I do?
What do I say?
What can I say?
I said I'm not supposed to be like this
Let's try to find a happy game to play
Let's try to find a happy game to play
I'm not supposed to be like this
But it's okay, okay
Lyrics submitted by xpankfrisst
The Wrong Child Lyrics as written by Michael E. Mills Michael Stipe
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Why would a disabled child never go outside? The kid could be missing his legs or have some deformity that makes it very hard to run around like the other kids are.